Players who loved Baldur’s Gate will delight in Baldur’s Gate 3 for its more modern approach to a game extremely close to Dungeons & Dragons. This time around, players of this Baldur’s Gate title are in a race against time as they try to find a cure against their illithid tadpole or risk becoming a mind flayer during their assault on Faerun.
Thankfully, players of Baldur’s Gate 3have trusty companions to rely on as they build a formidable party against this threat. And for players who want to dominate ranged play in Baldur’s Gate 3, what sort of ranged weapons should they use to ensure they hit their mark?
10 Firestoker
- Damage: 1d6 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Light, Ammunition, Loading, Dippable
- Skills: Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot, Burned Alive
Where there’s a crossbow, there’s likely a way to set bolts on fire for maximum damage. And this is exactly what the Firestoker does. This Uncommon Crossbow can be found in the Grymforge and has an effective range of 18-meters. As with other Hand Crossbows, this relies on loading ammunition, as well as being dippable ammo. It has Piercing Shot that can open Gaping Wounds to targets in order to make them more vulnerable. In turn, this weapon is ideal for long-ranged Baldur’s Gate 3 builds.
Moreover, it has Mobile Shot that allows players to attack while moving, making it a handy way of practical repositioning in combat. What perhaps makes Firestoker shine is its Burned Alive feature, wherein each of its attacks deals 1d4 Piercing Damage to Burning opponents. This incentivizes builds focusing on burning opponents first
9 Shortbow +1
- Damage: 1d6+1 Piercing
- Proficiency: Simple
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Ammunition, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Hamstring Shot
Those of smaller statures like the Halflings and the Gnomes have the Shortbow +1 to rely on if they want to make precision shots to decimate their foes. And for players who want a reliable ranged build, perhaps the Shortbow +1 may be a great way to start off their journey. This bow is acquired from Dammon at the Druid Grove.
Being a Shortbow, this weapon possesses the Hamstring Shot, allowing players to slow down enemies by half their movement speed once hit. Despite this rather simple skill addition, the Shortbow makes for an accessible first weapon for developing long-ranged kits inspired by D&D builds.
8 Heavy Crossbow +1
- Damage: 1d10+1 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Loading, Two-Hand, Dippable
- Skills: Piercing Shot, Brace (Ranged)
The heavy nature of the crossbow makes it one of the more complicated ranged weapons to enter the realm of combat, especially in Dungeons & Dragons where all actions take turns. The case is the same with the Heavy Crossbow +1 in Baldur’s Gate 3, where the game’s loading ammo mechanic means it takes time to reload this fast-acting weapon. Players who want to focus on Baldur’s Gate 3 ranged team builds can acquire this from Derryth Bonecloak in the Myconid Colony.
At its core, this weapon allows players to perform Brace (Ranged), where their Damage Rolls get an Advantage as long as they stay stationary. They can also perform a Piercing Shot to turn enemies vulnerable with Gaping Wounds.
7 Longbow +1
- Damage: 1d8+1 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Hamstring Shot, Brace (Ranged)
In the mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons, a +1 and above weapon means it’s enchanted to provide an extra bonus, unlike its base form. The Baldur’s Gate weapon Longbow +1 reflects such a bonus in the game, with the item’s description stating that this ordinary longbow was enchanted with carved spells running its length. Players can acquire this via Shattered Sanctum’s Roah Moonglow, the Myconid Colony’s Derryth Bonecloak, or the Zhentarim Hideout’s Brem.
Given its rather mundane enchantment, this bow also doesn’t offer a lot of things in terms of specialized components. It has a Hamstring Shot that allows players to slow enemies down when hit. Moreover, it has 1d8+1 Piercing damage, enabling players to dish out more pain contrary to the standard Longbow. Ranged builds won’t go wrong with the straightforwardness of the Longbow +1, and Baldur’s Gate 3 players should avoid the mistake of skipping out on this weapon due to its efficiency.
6 Githyanki Crossbow
- Damage: 1d10+1 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Psychic Vengeance, Piercing Shot, Brace (Ranged)
With the Githyanki essentially coming from another dimension, it makes sense for their depiction in Baldur’s Gate 3 to have them as a rather alien species. This is reflected in their weapons, as the Githyanki Crossbow seems ordinary by Dungeons & Dragons standards but it has a unique appearance nonetheless. Said to be fashioned of metal not native to Faerun, players can only acquire this by fighting Gityhanki Raiders.
Skills-wise, the Githyanki Crossbow also has Brace (Ranged) that allows players to have an Advantage on Damage Rolls while stationary. Moreover, its Piercing Shot also lets players turn enemies vulnerable with Gaping Wounds. However, what’s more interesting is its Psychic Vengeance feature, essentially the equivalent of a melee-based Baldur’s Gate 3 Cantrip that allows players to deal 1d4 Psychic damage on attacks with this weapon if they have 50 percent or less HP.
5 Light Crossbow +1
- Damage: 1d8+1 Piercin g
- Proficiency: Simple
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Piercing Shot
While the bow remains an ever-reliable long-ranged weapon in games such as Dungeons & Dragons, it’s always quite interesting to see how fantasy worlds like that of Baldur’s Gate 3 adjust to the existence of crossbows. For instance, the Light Crossbow +1 boasts a sleek appearance and a lighter build due to its hollowed body, yet it performs well at the hands of a competent fighter with the right Feats. Found either in the Grymforge or sold by Druid Grove’s Dammon or Myconid Colony’s Derryth Bonecloak, this weapon is a rather common sight in Faerun.
This bow in particular deals 1d8+1 Piercing damage. Not only that, but it also possesses the Piercing Shot, allowing players to make enemies fragile with Gaping Wounds. Despite the rather mundane nature of this item, this does give players a straightforward ranged option for consistent long-distance combat incursions.
4 Spellthief
- Damage: 1d8 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Hamstring Shot, Brace (Ranged), Arcana Vehemence
Players consider the Arcane Archer as one of the more popular spellslinging Fighter Subclasses in Dungeons & Dragons, and the Spellthief bow allows Baldur’s Gate 3 players to have a similar experience. This weapon, which is originally possessed by Auntie Ethel in the Riverside Teahouse, resembles a typical bow with a yellow magical sheen.
This bow has Brace (Ranged), allowing players to gain Advantage on Damage Rolls while staying immobile - making it a nifty alternative to other Baldur’s Gate 3 Feats. Not to mention, Hamstring Shot may be able to help players slow enemies down to disable any chances of them regrouping. What’s perhaps most intriguing about this bow is the Arcana Vehemence feature, essentially allowing players to regain a Level 1 Spell Slot with a Critical Hit with this weapon once every Short Rest. This weapon becomes an ideal companion for Spellcasters who want to stay safe in the backline.
3 Sharran Crossbow
- Damage: 1d8+1 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Uncommon
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Piercing Shot
Sometimes, the mark of a masterclass weapon lies not in a complicated design but rather in a sleek one, and such is the case with Sharran Crossbow. This weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like an ordinary crossbow, with the symbol of the god Shar engraved on the handle. Being an Uncommon Item, this crossbow is rather easy to find similar to items from games such as Dungeons & Dragons. Players can find this item hidden in a chest behind the rothes in Grymforge, though more locations may be revealed once Baldur’s Gate 3 gets out of early access.
Disguised as “Light Crossbow +1,” players need to pass a check in order for this item’s true name to be revealed. This weapon also comes with the Piercing Shot, capable of weakening foes with Gaping Wounds. Despite its rather mundane nature, the 1d8+1 Piercing and the nifty Piercing Shot makes the Sharran Crossbow a must-have for anyone who wants a consistent ranged build.
2 Giantbreaker
- Damage: 1d10 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Rare
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed, Dippable
- Skills: Piercing Shot, Brace (Ranged), Heavy Hitter
A lot of the most precious Magic Items in Dungeons & Dragons have associations with legends, particularly when heroes of old used them to defeat ancient evils. In Baldur’s Gate 3, such an item is the Giantbreaker. Classified as a Rare Magic Weapon, players can find this through the Merchant Brem in the Zhentarim Hideout, but only after helping them find the missing equipment. According to the item, this crossbow was used to defeat various hill giants.
When used, the Giantbreaker gives players new to Baldur’s Gate 3 access to Piercing Shot that can easily leave opponents vulnerable with Gaping Wounds. Not only that, Brace (Ranged) allows players to gain an Advantage on their Damage Rolls while not being able to move. Perhaps more impressively, the Heavy Hitter feature means the Giantbreaker’s attacks have a chance of causing enemies to go Reeling, making them have -1 Attack Roll penalties.
1 The Joltshooter
- Damage: 1d8+2 Piercing
- Proficiency: Martial
- Quality: Rare
- Range: 18m
- Qualities: Heavy, Two-Handed
- Skills: Electric Blood, Hamstring Shot, Brace (Ranged)
Serving as one of many mythical items in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Joltshooter seems to be the favored weapon of legendary Yree the Sparkstruck, a deep gnome who left the Underdark for adventuring. This sleek-looking bow is known for its tendency to have arcs of lightning surrounding it, reflecting its nature as a Rare Magic Weapon. Players can acquire this weapon as one of the rewards in the “Rescue the Grand Duke” Quest, and its appearance may have Baldur’s Gate 3 release more NPCs wielding such an item.
With this weapon, players can do Brace (Ranged), where they gain Advantage on Damage Rolls while remaining stationary. Meanwhile, this weapon also lets them do the Hamstring Shot, which essentially shoots foes that can reduce their speed up to 50 percent to avoid pesky escapes. Lastly, its Electric Blood feature gives players two Lightning Charges whenever dealing damage to this weapon, enabling them to use the Joltshooter in conjunction with other items with effects that cost Lightning Charges.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently in early access and is available for the PC.